FRANKFORT, Ky. (4/27/13) – Unemployment rates rose in 60 Kentucky counties between March 2012 and March 2013, while 54 county rates decreased and six stayed the same, according to the Kentucky Office of Employment and Training, an agency of the Kentucky Education and Workforce Development Cabinet.

Woodford County recorded the lowest jobless rate in the Commonwealth at 6.1 percent. It was followed by Oldham County, 6.5 percent; Fayette County, 6.6 percent; Daviess, Franklin and Madison counties, 6.9 percent each; Ohio, Scott and Shelby counties, 7 percent each; and Hancock County, 7.1 percent.

Magoffin County recorded the state’s highest unemployment rate — 18.3 percent. It was followed by Leslie County, 17.2 percent; Harlan County, 16.8 percent; Letcher County, 16.7 percent; Knott County, 15.2 percent; Bell County 15 percent; Jackson and Menifee counties, 14.8 percent each; Fulton County, 14.6 percent; and McCreary County, 14.3 percent.

Unemployment statistics are based on estimates and are compiled to measure trends rather than actually to count people working. Civilian labor force statistics include non-military workers and unemployed Kentuckians who are actively seeking work. They do not include unemployed Kentuckians who have not looked for employment within the past four weeks. The statistics in this news release are not seasonally adjusted because of the small sample size for each county. The data should only be compared to the same month in previous years.

SurfKY NewsInformation provided by the Education and Workforce Development CabinetPhoto provided by SurfKY Graphics